§ VISCOUNT PALMERSTONappeared at the Bar, and being called upon by Mr. SPEAKER, in the usual manner announced a Message from THE QUEEN.
§ Message from HER MAJESTY brought up, and read by Mr. SPEAKER (all the Members being uncovered), as follows:—
§ "VICTORIA R.
§ "HER MAJESTY, having agreed to a Marriage proposed between the Princess Royal and His Royal Highness Prince Frederic William of Prussia, has thought fit to communicate the same to the House of Commons.
§ "HER MAJESTY is fully persuaded that this Alliance cannot but be acceptable to all Her Majesty's faithful Subjects; and the many proofs which The Queen has received of the affectionate attachment of this House to Her Majesty's Person and Family leave Her no room to doubt of the concurrence and assistance of this House in enabling Her to make such a provision for Her eldest daughter, with a view to the said Marriage, as may be suitable to the dignity of the Crown and the honour of the Country.
§ "V. R."
§ VISCOUNT PALMERSTONI am sure that this House will be desirous of taking the earliest opportunity of assuring Her Majesty of the deep sympathy which this House feels in an event so interesting to 404 Her Majesty, and I may say so interesting to the country also; and that, without pledging any person in this House as to the details of the manner in which this House may be prepared to answer the appeal which has been made by Her Majesty, at least we will lose no time in assuring her that we will on an early day take into respectful consideration the Message with which she has this day honoured this House. Sir, the Address which I am about to propose has that object in view. At the same time I cannot refrain from saying, that those who have had the good fortune to be acquainted with the Princess Royal must have observed that she possesses, both in heart and in head, those distinguished qualities which adorn her illustrious parents, and that she bids fair to hold out in the country of her adoption a repetition of that brilliant example of domestic happiness which her illustrious parents have shown in this country—a model worthy of imitation alike by the most exalted and by the humblest of their subjects. Sir, it is impossible not to see that this marriage, independently of the prospect of happiness which it offers to Her Royal Highness from the high qualities of the Prince whom she has selected as her future husband, holds out to this country political prospects not undeserving of the attention of this House. We all know how family alliances tend to mitigate those asperities, which from time to time must be produced by those diversities of policy which must inevitably arise occasionally between great and independent Powers; and I trust that this marriage may be considered as holding out an increased prospect of cordiality and good-will among the great Powers of Europe. Sir, I shall not further trespass upon the House on the present occasion. On Friday next we propose to submit to the House the arrangement which we think fitting for Her Royal Highness, and I shall now merely propose the adoption of an Address, assuring Her Majesty of the loyal attachment of this House to her person and Throne, and that we shall at an early period take into consideration the Message which she has so graciously addressed to us. The noble Viscount concluded by moving—
That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty, to return to Her Majesty the Thanks of this House for her most Gracious Communication of the intended Marriage between the Princess Royal and his Royal Highness Prince Frederic William of Prussia; to express their 405 satisfaction at the prospect of an alliance with a Prince of so illustrious a family, which they doubt not will contribute to the happiness of Her Majesty and of Her Royal Highness, as well as prove conducive to the best interests of this Kingdom; and to assure Her Majesty that the House will immediately proceed to the consideration of Her Majesty's Gracious Message in such a manner as shall demonstrate the zeal, duty, and affectionate attachment of this House to Her Majesty, a just sense of the virtues and merit of Her Royal Highness, and a due regard to the dignity of the Royal Family and the honour of this Country.
§ MR. DISRAELII have the honour to second the Address which has been moved by the noble Lord, and which, I am sure, is a faithful representation of the feelings of the House. All of us, I am sure, must be sensible of the gratification which the announcement made by Her Majesty this day is calculated to impart to her subjects. All of us must join in the fervent hope and in the full belief that the alliance, which has been intimated, will contribute to the happiness of Her Majesty; and I am sure that we are all prepared to consider, in a becoming spirit and at the proper opportunity, the means by which it may be in our power to accomplish Her Majesty's wishes.
Resolved, Nemine Contradicente, "That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty, to return Her Majesty the Thanks of this House for Her Most Gracious Communication of the intended Marriage between the Princess Royal and His Royal Highness Prince Frederic William of Prussia; to express their satisfaction at the prospect of an alliance with a Prince of so illustrious a family, which they doubt not will contribute to the happiness of Her Majesty and of Her Royal Highness, as well as prove conducive to the best interests of this Kingdom; and to assure Her Majesty that the House will immediately proceed to the consideration of Her Majesty's Gracious Message, in such a manner as shall demonstrate the zeal, duty, and affectionate attachment of this House to Her Majesty, a just sense of the virtues and merits of Her Royal Highness, and a due regard to the dignity of the Royal Family, and the honour of this Country.
§ To be presented by Privy Councillors.
§ Committee on Message on Friday.